In June of 2020, Legal Voice and the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, filed a complaint on behalf of Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho against “The Church at Planned Parenthood” (TCAPP)—a group of armed, anti-abortion extremists who were harassing patients outside of the Spokane Health Center. For over two years, TCAPP was breaking both state and local laws while police officers stood by and refused to hold them accountable. Their behavior significantly interfered with Planned Parenthood’s ability to provide quality health and reproductive health care to community members.
Now, 15 months later, Judge Timothy Fitzgerald has granted our request for a permanent injunction, effective immediately! The court concluded that “[Planned Parenthood] has a clear and equitable right to provide and its patients have clear and equitable rights to seek or obtain health care unimpeded by unlawful acts of others.” What does this mean? TCAPP can no longer gather closer than thirty-five feet outside of the Planned Parenthood Spokane Health Center; they can no longer amplify sound from 8 AM – 7 PM Monday through Saturday; they cannot violate state or local laws without consequence. There are no more excuses for law enforcement to ignore TCAPP’s behavior.
In this moment, when barrier after barrier erodes our reproductive freedom, we are heartened by this decision that centers community and protects abortion access. People deserve to access the healthcare they need and to do so without being harassed and intimidated by extremists whose only purpose is to bully and shame. This is a major step in the right direction not just for Spokane, but for all Washingtonians. We do this in community with you all, for the liberation of all of us.
Thank you for your strong and passionate support.
Read the Order here:
